June 23, 2011
why does my car suck on gas and how do i make it better.?
its a 2004 maxima and the readings on the screen say its only getting 15.7 mpg. wtf. i know it aint a gas saver but it sure as hell shouldnt be that low. trucks beat that! so my ideas are replace the filter, do all oil changes(just because i want to) clean battery terminals and thats it. the car is a powerful beast but its completely stock and i want to know why its not saving as much gas as it should by a long shot.
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Filed under Gas Conservation FAQ by on Jun 23rd, 2011. Comment. 
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Comments on why does my car suck on gas and how do i make it better.?
Take a good look at your driving habits. Do you make jack rabbit starts? If its a manual transmission, do you wind it out too long in the gears? I have a maxima and it gets about 21 mph, but I drive it conservatively.
drive like you have a egg under the gas petal
If you’re doing much city driving 15.7 is pretty good.
It could depend on how you drive too.
Do you anticipate stops ,like coasting as soon as you see the light changing.
Coast down hills when you can.
Do not gun the petal,when you see the light going to yellow.
I have also heard about gas saving tires. they must roll better,i Would guess.
Have you changed the cars filters,gas,air etc.
first, your in car computer may not accurately reflect your MPG, fill up the tank, record odometer reading, and then record odometer reading and gal. of gas needed to fill up and calculate your real fuel mileage. here’s the bad news, your maxima was designed to be a performance sedan, it weighs 3,400lbs has a 3.5 v6 and 265hp, EPA rated the car at 28mpg hwy and 20mph city. if you are in a lot of stop & go traffic you are not going to get great mileage. (but the car is fun to drive)
as far as getting better mpg, there are good ideas in the other answers, here’s what i do, drive conservatively with lost of coasting (down hill, before stop signs & lights) easy accelerations, keep weight out of the car (what’s in the trunk?), i use royal purple synthetic oil in the engine and a drop in K&N air filter, keep tire air pressure up, and try to limit unnecessary trips. when i travel on the free way, i keep my speed to the speed limit. i use a gas additive (startron) to keep my fuel fresh and engine clean.
hope this helps
Your driving habits could have a lot to do with it. However, your car may very well be about due for a tune up. Things like filters, oxygen sensors, etc can have a pretty significant effect on fuel economy.